Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE10179’

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE10179’; particularly distinguished by a stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla and a compact growth habit is disclosed.

Genus and species: Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEOE10179’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.,and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE10179’. The newvariety originated from a controlled cross conducted in June 2007 inStuttgart, Germany. The female parent was a proprietary Osteospermumplant named ‘Mutant 1’ (unpatented), and the male parent was aproprietary Osteospermum plant named ‘V 78’ (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexualpropagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in April2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedlyby vegetative cuttings over three to four generations. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Norway onSep. 29, 2010, Switzerland on Sep. 20, 2010, European Union on Sep. 29,2010, and Canada on Feb. 15, 2011. ‘KLEOE10179’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla; and    -   2. Compact growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows a whole plant, including the blooms, buds, andfoliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in Summer2010 of a 7-month old plant in the field in Stuttgart, Germany, underconditions which approximate those generally used in normalhorticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE10179’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Summer of 2010 on7-month old plants which were potted at 4 weeks in 12 centimetercontainers and then planted in the ground in May 2010. The plants werepinched once at 6 weeks. Color readings were taken under natural light.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—28.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—27.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 14            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.        -   Shape.—Dentiform.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Deeply serrate.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137A. Lower            surface: RHS 137C. Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N137C.            Lower surface: RHS 137C.        -   Length.—5.2 cm.        -   Width.—1.9 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Petioles.—Absent.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches at base of plant.—7 to 8            (calculated at the base of the plant).        -   Length.—28.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—5.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 138A.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—1.1 cm.        -   Diameter.—8.0 mm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            137A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to Fall.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—25.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 14            days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—4.2 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—2.5 cm.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—70.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 76B. Mature: RHS 76C.        -   Length.—1.0 to 1.9 mm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—2.0 mm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS 182C.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—17 to 18.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS N155A. Lower surface: RHS 76A.        -   Length.—2.6 cm.        -   Width.—7.0 mm to 8.0 mm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—6.0 cm to 7.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—RHS N134C.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per plant.—16.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 132A.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.2 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Located at the base of the disc floret            corolla. Stamens: Quantity: 70. Shape: Filamentous. Color:            RHS 72B. Filament length: 4.5 mm. Filament diameter: 0.2 mm.            Anther: Shape: Elliptic. Color: RHS N79A. Length: 1.2 mm.            Diameter: 0.5 mm. Pollen: Color: RHS 22B. Amount: Sparse.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Located at the base of the ray florets;            pistils in disc florets are degenerated and non-functional.            Pistils: Number: 17. Length: 7.0 mm. Diameter: 1.0 mm.            Stigma: Color: RHS N79A. Shape: Bipartite. Length: 1.2 mm.            Diameter: 0.1 mm. Style: Color: RHS 76B. Length: 2.1 mm.            Diameter: 0.1 mm. Shape: Elliptic.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL, SIBLING AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLEOE10179’ differs from the female parent, the proprietaryOsteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’ in that ‘KLEOE10179’ has whiteflowers, while ‘Mutant 1’ has pink-purple flowers. Additionally,‘KLEOE10179’ has a stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla, while‘Mutant 1’ has a partially enlarged disc floret corolla. Lastly,‘KLEOE10179’ has a compact growth habit, while ‘Mutant 1’ has a mediumvigorous growth habit.

‘KLEOE10179’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary Osteospermumplant named ‘V 78’ in that ‘KLEOE10179’ has a stable uniformly enlargeddisc floret corolla, while ‘V 78’ has a normal disc floret corolla.

‘KLEOE10179’ differs from the sibling Osteospermum plant named‘KLEOE10181’ (Co-pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.13/135,457) in that ‘KLEOE10179’ has an upright growth habit, a rayfloret lower surface color of RHS 76A, and a disc floret quantity of 70,whereas ‘KLEOE10181’ has a semi-upright growth habit, a ray floret lowersurface color of RHS 82A, and a disc floret quantity of approximately120.

There are no available commercial varieties that are comparable to‘KLEOE10179’.

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE10179’as shown and described herein.